| Crocuses and snowdrops are often called the first harbingers of spring, and
gardeners in some areas have already seen blooms on hardy, early-blooming bulbs
such as these. In fact, many of the bigger bulbs like daffodils and tulips have
been poking the green tips of their foliage through the soil. So get the plant
food ready, because feeding spring-flowering bulbs now is vitally important to
their well-being. Three key points:
Tulips are especially heavy feeders and benefit from broadcast application
of a dry, balanced plant food as foliage emerges.
All spring-flowering bulbs should be fed with a balanced fertilizer
immediately after flowering, as this is the time when they are manufacturing
and storing "food" for next year's growth.
Deadhead the flowers as they fade, but don't remove the foliage until the
green fades to yellow-to-brown. If you remove the foliage too soon, the bulb
won't get all the nutrients it needs – and you won't get the beautiful
blooms you want.
Next spring may seem like a long time from now, but when it arrives, you'll
be glad you gave your bulbs good nutrition this year.
Courtesy of Miracle-Gro.com
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